Lytteltonwitch's Walking the streets of Christchurch Project
I love walking and history and this project covers both interests
Kahikatea Lane – Named after the kahikatea trees of which there are some very fine examples in nearby Riccarton Bush Developed at 94 Matai Street. The developer left the naming of the right of way to the purchasers of the first allotment in the subdivision. Proposed names had a connection with Riccarton Bush. Named in …
Continue reading “Kahikatea Lane in the suburb of Riccarton, Christchurch”
Matai Street East / Matai Street West – formerly Matai Street. Also Station Road, Railway Terrace and Riccarton Station Road. Named after the matai tree, a native New Zealand conifer. Named to commemorate the Deans families’ efforts to conserve the native forest trees in Riccarton. The naming was also designed to showcase the Maori names …
Continue reading “Matai Street East/ Matai Street West in the suburb of Riccarton, Christchurch”
Nikau Place – formerly Matai Terrace. Matai Terrace first appears in street directories in 1939. Re-named Nikau Place because of confusion for the postal authorities with Matai Street. Residents had been asked by the Riccarton Borough Council to suggest a name. One of them, Betty Crawford (later Hutchins), an employee of the Dept of Lands …
Continue reading “Nikau Place in the suburb of Riccarton, Christchurch”
Kerenu Lane – formerly 46A-F Matai Street West Named after the kereru, the native wood pigeon which is seen in this area each year. Named in 2002.A small amount of information from the library website and nothing that I can add here. A tiny private lane next to Britten Stables and I didn’t walk it …
Continue reading “Kerenu Lane in the suburb of Riccarton, Christchurch”
Mona Vale Ave – formerly Station Road, Riccarton Station Road, Railway Terrace and Matai Street. Named because of its proximity to Mona Vale.A small amount of information from the library website and nothing that I can add. Houses are on one side and the railway track on the other side. Many new houses here but …
Continue reading “Mona Vale Avenue in the suburb of Riccarton, Christchurch”
Ayr Street – Named after the town of Ayr in Ayrshire, Scotland. Named to continue the theme of naming streets in Riccarton after places in Ayrshire, Scotland, from whence the Deans family originated. Ayr Street is first mentioned in The Press in 1878. First appears in street directories in 1900. A small amount of information …
Continue reading “Ayr Street in the suburb of Riccarton, Christchurch”
Athelstan Street – Probably named after Athelstan (c.895- 939) – Athelstan was the first king of all England, and Alfred the Great’s grandson. Athelstan Street is first mentioned in The Press in 1913 when 32 sections in Spreydon were auctioned. A small amount of information from the library website. Athelstan was actually a popular name …
Continue reading “Athelstan Street in the suburb of Spreydon, Christchurch”
Moore St – Named after Thomas Moore (1779-1852). Nelson Street first appears in street directories in 1892. Re-named Moore Street in 1909. Moore was an Irish poet. Probably named to continue the theme of “poets and writers” streets of Sydenham, Addington and Waltham named by a committee of the Sydenham Borough Council in January 1880. …
Continue reading “Moore Street in the suburb of Sydenham, Christchurch”
Brisbane Street formerly an extension of Barbadoes Street. Probably named after Sir Thomas Brisbane (1773- 1860). Formerly an extension of Barbadoes Street but when crossed by the railway in 1948 it became a separate road. Became Brisbane Street on 1 September 1948 when 120 streets were renamed. Brisbane was a soldier and statesman after whom …
Continue reading “Brisbane Street in the suburb of Sydenham, Christchurch”
Coleridge Street – Formerly part of Fifth Street. The streets south of, and parallel to, Moorhouse Avenue were named in numerical order. Re-named Coleridge Street. Named after Samuel Coleridge (1772-1834). Rooms to let in “Fifth Street, short distance from Gas Works” are advertised in the Star in 1874. Fifth Street appears in street directories in …
Continue reading “Coleridge Street in the suburb of Sydenham, Christchurch”
Lytteltonwitch's Walking the streets of Christchurch Project